The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Memphis Grizzlies in front of a rocking home crowd that was starved for playoff basketball on Saturday night. As a result, the Lakers took a 2-1 series lead over the Grizzlies with the opportunity to take a 3-1 lead at home on Monday.
One of the biggest storylines of the game was Dillon Brooks getting ejected for a dirty hit to the groin on LeBron James. Brooks was given a flagrant 2 foul for the dirty play and decided afterward that he didn’t want the usual smack-talking to reporters.
Brooks finally spoke on the incident on Sunday after practice and failed to take any responsibility for the foul. Instead, Brooks blamed everyone but himself — including the media and NBA fans — for creating a perception of him that led to him getting ejected.
Dillon Brooks, speaking after practice today, said he thinks the perception of him influenced the flagrant 2 call in Game 3. “The media making me a villain, the fans making me a villain, that just creates another persona on me.”
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) April 23, 2023
Right. so the referees only gave him a flagrant 2 because they think he is a bad guy. Not because he tried getting away with the worst attempt at an “incidental” shot below the belt. Got it.
Lakers fans should be drinking in Dillon Brooks’ tears
Brooks can blame everyone but himself all he wants but the reality of the situation is that he, not anyone else, created this perception of him. Sure, maybe the referees have an idea of who Brooks is in mind but it is not because of the media or because of NBA fans.
It is because he goes to the media and says outlandish things about his opponents, his own ability, and whatever he can to try and gain some kind of advantage.
Brooks relishes being a pest that upsets other teams and fanbases. And hey, he is not the first one to embrace this role. There have been countless examples of players taking on this role on their respective teams because their overall skills cannot keep up with their opponents.
But to embrace the role, lean into it, and then turn around and blame everyone else? C’mon. Not even a wrestling bad guy from the mid-80s when everyone thought it was real would pull this kind of stunt. If Brooks actually believes this? Oh man, that is ironic.
Should Lakers fans even be surprised by this behavior? Probably not. But it is going to make it all the more sweeter if LA can knock off Memphis and send Brooks packing. Hearing his excuse for that is going to be gold.